The War Within

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Review: A well-told, serious tale of the blurry line between right and wrong.

By Melissa Guyre

The War Within depicts the struggle one man faces in determining what is right from what is wrong within currents of the multi-cultural reality of American life. clashing as the victim of violence enacted in the goal of preserving that reality. Directed and co-written by Joseph Castelo, this is an intentionally heavy, thought-provoking film which attempts to reach into the heart of the questions grappling post-9/11 society through the humanized eyes of a terrorist and his ideology.

Co-writer Ayad Akhtar makes his debut performance as Hassan, a Pakistani engineering student who is subjected to extreme rendition within the first moments of the film, stuck with a needle, and flown to Karachi. Upon waking up in a jail cell, he is tended to by fellow inmate Khalid (Charles Daniel Sandoval), who whispers of a Brotherhood, before being dragged away for torture sessions with a much less sympathetic police interrogator where Hassan learns that his brother Mustafa was shot in Afghanistan while protesting. Fast forward three years to a freighter crossing the Atlantic and we find Hassan in a poorly lit shipping container doing his best to stay clean and human. Like clockwork, the container, and hundreds more like it, are unloaded at port in the efficient rhythm of urban industry, no one the wiser that a wrench is waiting to throw itself into the works of life.

From container to safe house, Hassan easily slips into the ranks of Khalid's terrorist cell, and the final steps of a mission to blow up local bridges, tunnels, and mass transit hubs, the transit arteries of New York City, quickly fall into place. As bombs are wired and taxis are fitted with explosives, Hassan reconnects with the family of Sayeed (Firdous Bamji), his best friend from Pakistan, who invites Hassan into their home in the suburbs of New Jersey. On the morning of the attack, fate intervenes as Hassan witnesses the arrest of the terrorist cell except for Khalid and himself, forcing Hassan to take a job driving taxis and live in Sayeed's home while waiting for a new mission plan to be formulated. Days pass and anxiety grows as Hassan finds himself at a crossroads between his ideology forged in the violence forced upon him and the peace of participating in the daily life of Sayeed and his family in their community. Further complicating his emotions is a budding romantic interest with Duri (Nandana Sen), the younger sister of Sayeed.

As the FBI closes in on Khalid's trail, we begin to see the life Hassan had precariously built for himself unraveling. Hassan spends his days rationalizing violence against American citizens, even as he begins to connect with his taxi passengers and their stories. Sayeed begins suspecting the nature of his friend's devotion to Islam while Khalid and Hassan prepare for their final mission, unaware of the impact retribution will have on those Hassan has come to hold dear.

Ayad Akhtar as Hassan in The War Within

The War Within contrasts the ideologies that are at odds in our world politics in a plausible story of cause and effect which forces us to analyze the steps taken in between at a deeply personal level of personal choice and belief. The acting is believable, with a moving performance at the end by Sarita Choudhury as Sayeed's wife, Farida. Ayad Akhtar does an excellent job of expressing the internal strife of a man torn between drastically different outcomes of life. The film paints a portrait of a growing circle of suffering as political struggles and religious crusades that many are hard pressed to readily explain spiral out to personally touch increasing numbers of lives in communities around the world.

The concern I have regarding a film of this nature is that the story could be used at face value as an example of a terrorist act which could actually take place. The film might also further frighten the security of Muslims in this country by solidifying the fears and paranoia of those who are already dialed up by the terror alerts and fear of a system working against their culture. This movie is definitely not for those hoping for a casual film experience; it is built in such a way to practically challenge the viewer to ask questions about Hassan, the societies which shaped him into a terrorist, and the state of the world in which we are living.

The War Within is a well-told, serious tale of the blurry line between right and wrong and the domino effect of violence. In the end, we have a choice on how to interpret the film. The art is well executed and the actors strike the right blend of emotion without over-acting. The characters' lives we see played out could be our neighbors. The locations shown in our film are recognizable and real. It is easy to feel as if we are watching the events play out in real life. If you're looking for an immersive experience which provides plenty of questions about American culture and the era of terror alerts and extreme rendition, this is the movie for you.